Michael Vitez reports:
When CNN declared Obama the president at 11 o’clock, the 150 people at the Camden County Democratic headquarters in Cherry Hill who had been there waiting for the count went into a roar.
Norwood Allen, 65, of Camden, broke into open sobs.
“It’s just a wonderful thing to see things turn around in your lifetime. To see people come together,” Allen said.
Augusta Hughes, 53, of Sicklerville, has an MBA from LaSalle University and had worked in marketing for various pharmaceutical companies in 15 years before losing her job in April. Since then, she has been cleaning houses since while looking for work. Her husband lost his job at a Volvo dealership in Berwyn three weeks ago.
When the declaration came, she danced across the room, jumping, screaming, doing a beautiful interpretation of a Mummers strut. She also cried.
“I’ve been looking for work for six long months. We need change,” she said. “We have to help Barack Obama become the president we need him to be.”
Cheryl Caldrone, 51, from Sicklerville, also broke into tears. “I hope I don’t pass out. I never thought I would see an African American president.”
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The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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